Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Last Evening In The Garden

Hibiscus are a top performer in Southern California and can actually be trimmed up from shrubs into small trees with wide canopies. They'll tolerate some pretty heavy pruning around March and then come booming back full steam and are in their prime this time of year. With wide glossy leaves and big, showy flowers, this sub-tropical can be suseptible to white fly, but consistent blasts with the hose and keeping debris raked up will keep pests in check. Hibiscus is a sun lover that will tolerate some shade. Other plants grow well below it, especially plants that prefer dappled sunlight. It will continue flowering through autumn. Although the flowers don't work well cut, they look beautiful massed together floating in a bowl, or will stay fresh long enough to tuck behind your ear, if you're so inclined.